How To Correctly Coil Rope

West Advisor Mark Chandler shows us how to correctly coil our most important ropes.

Each person has a unique connection to the water. At West Marine, our knowledge, enthusiasm and products prepare waterlife adventurers to foster that connection and explore their passions. With more than 260 stores located in 38 states and Puerto Rico and an eCommerce website reaching domestic, international and professional customers, West Marine is recognized as a leading Waterlife Outfitter for cruisers, sailors, anglers and paddlesports enthusiasts. Since first opening our doors in 1968, West Marine associates continue to share the same love for the water as our customers and provide helpful advice on the gear and gadgets they need to be safe and have fun.

[lizbethboyd]

Had no idea how to keep it from twisting or what caused it! You Sir have answered and explained the reasons! THANK YOU KINDLY 👍

[bradpeek]

Thanks for a very clear easy to follow instuction vid... we'll be changing how we coil!

[Bnryzombie]

This is the best way. I learned this method a long time ago. Thank you for doing it right!

[capnchip]

Real nice. Having been on boats for the most part of my 80 years, I LEARNED something from this video. T H A N K Y O U West Marine.

[johnhiggs]

I learned this as a teenager working a crab boat. The last thing you want is a tangled up float line crashing around your feet as it whips over the side. You could end up 30+ feet under in a couple seconds.

[TheBsavage]

I like it. I never really thought much about why my braided rope had those weird curly-qs. Now I know. I was actually looking for a video that would show a good way to tie up (in order to shorten the length) the remainder of a rope where one end is fixed and cannot be accessed. I'll give this figure-8 thing a try & see what happens, but if life goes the way it's been going I'll probably have to invent some rope-related technique for this.

[russellcole]

Interesting. However, I have for decades used what I think might be called a mountaineer's coil, which is the same way that commercial divers handle their hoses and is used for electrical wires. I won't try to describe it here. But it works well, especially if you need to toss a line, such as a rappel line when climbing. Also, flacking the rope back and forth in your hand works well and doesn't have the possibility of creating knots when the coil of the rope snags the bight of another coil.

[Remslem]

This year really takes me to youtube places I thought I'd never go to...

[thaniaport]

Like number 1K... congratulations MY FRIEND

[bbauer]

I was taught flaking to avoid the same problem...

[skipmars]

Sailors have lines, cowboys have ropes.

[yak]

nice advice about coiling ropes . the securing of the coil too fast to follow though, sorry.

[wilfdarr]

The only thing I disagree with is intentionally adding ANY twist. It does look prettier that way, and though you will probably get away with it, it's unnecessary. Just grab it and place it the same orientation in your other hand and let it fall naturally: stiff line will flake all by itself, softer line will fall into a coil with the bottom ~90° off plane from the top (it will fall into a figure 8 coil rather than a figure 8 flake as soon as gravity is removed from the equation, like when it's dropped on the deck), but I don't know of any reason that's not ok.

[ushi]

Mistake! Don't twist the double braided rope while you coil it. Just push the rope, it will follow his natural texture and form a eight automatically.

[Carhawlin]

Or you could just flake the line instead of coiling the rope

[ihophomestead]

This is the way I already do not a useful video, on to the next that can show me something everyone doesn't already know.